Gate-latch



W. J. HAYS.

GATE LATGH Patented Dec. 1, 1896.

(No Model.)

' WITNESSES: if" m A TTOR/VEYS.

- lowing is a full, clear, and exact description,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. HAYS, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 572,485, dated December 1, 1896.

Application filed February 26,1896. Serial No. 580,778. (No model.)

- To all whom it ntrty concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. HAYS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Macon and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gate-Latches, of which the folreference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a View of my improved gate, and Fig. 2isa detail perspective view of the latch.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. 1

A A are the two gate-posts, and B is the gate hinged to the post A. The gate is formed of horizontal upper, middle, and bottom tubing B B B vertical end tubing B B and vertical middle tubing B B B C are cruciform couplings, through the horizontal branches of which the horizontal tubes or pipes 13' B are passed and held at their middle portions, and the vertical middle tubes are screwed into the vertical members of said couplings, an inverted-T coupling C being screwed on the lower end of the lower tube 13 to support the middle of the bottom horizontal tube Biwhich passes therethrough. The ends of this bottom tube B are connected to the lower ends of the vertical end tubes 13 B by elbow-couplings 0 while the ends of the upper and middle horizontal tubes 13 B are connected to the end tubes l3 B by means of the T-couplings G and the bolts 0 passed therethrough. The middle and end tubes B B are provided with horizontally-alined apertures 12, and wire strands, barbed or plain, are passed through such apertures and connected with the front end tube 13* by means of yokes D and screwbolts having nuts c. Each wire is doubled on the rear end tube B and is thus composed of two parallel strands whose ends are attached to separate yokes D.

By properly straining the wires the framework of the gate will be held against any tendency to sag. The lower wires will be arranged closer together than the upper wires,

in order to prevent the passage of animals.

' The double latch is constructed as follows: E is a vertical bar bolted between its ends to the front end of the middle horizontal tube 13 and horizontal latches E E are pivoted near their inner ends to the upper and lower ends of the said bar by means of the bolts 6 e. The outer ends of these latches extend through a guard or keeper F, secured to the front tube 13, and rest on cross-pieces f f thereof.

E is a vertical lever pivoted at its lower end to the inner end of the lower latch and provided near its upper end with a transverse projection e to engage the upper edge of the inner end of the upper latch E, so that when so engaged both latches may be raised simultaneously by pressing down on the said lever. The upper extremity of the lever is bent inwardly toward the gate, as at 6 so that it may be pressed inwardly and overhang one of the cross-wires and thus lock the two latches against being raised by stock.

G G are two latch-strikes secured to the inner face of the gate-post A and each having a notch g and oppositely-beveled ends leading therefrom to guide the latches to the notches in both movements of the gates.

The hinges of the gate consist in hook bolts or spikes H H on the post A and eyebolts I I, secured to the inner vertical end tube 13.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gate the combination with the upper and lower horizontal latches pivoted near their inner ends, of a lever pivoted at its lower end to the inner extremity of the lower latch, and provided with a pin to engage the inner end of the upper latch, the upper end of the lever havingalateral extension to engage a portion of the gate and lock the two latches, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the gate havinga vertical bar and a keeper at its free edge, of latches pivoted near their inner ends to the ends of the said bar and projecting through the keeper beyond the front end of the gate to engage the strikes, and a lever pivoted at its lower end to the inner end of the lower lever and having a transverse pin to overhang the inner end of the upper latch, the upper end of the lever being bent toward the gate to engage a cross-wire or part and lock the two latches, substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM J. HAYS. WVitnesses J. M. GRAY, 'DAN. I-I. AIKEN. 

